struggle continues: Farmers stage a dharna at the Tikri border. Photo: Sumit Tharan
Tribune News Service
Sonepat, April 25
The farmers’ protest at the Singhu and Tikri borders completed 150 days on Sunday.
“Our protest is an example of unity and commitment towards a just cause. The Centre tried several tactics to defame the protest, but farmers held their ground during the past 150 days.
“They will not step back without getting the three farm laws repealed,” said Pargat Singh, a leader of the BKU (Rajewal).
Other Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) leaders said farmers had already won the battle ethically and morally by protesting peacefully for five months. “The victory will be complete once the Centre repeals the three farm laws and assures legal guarantee on the MSP,” said Dr Darshan Pal, an SKM leader.
Another SKM leader Balbir Singh Rajewal said farmers had already opened one side of the road for emergency services in view of the rising Covid cases and cleaned it today, but barricades put up by the Delhi Police had not yet been removed.
On the KMP expressway, meanwhile, the authorities tried to re-start toll plazas again today.
Gurnam Singh Chaduni, a BKU leader, said: “No toll will be charged till farmers are protesting. If the state government and toll operators try to charge the toll, they will face protest by farmers.”
Farmers’ agitation: Despite Covid, crowds swell at protest sites
The surge in Covid cases has failed to deter farmers from joining in large numbers at protest sites across Sangrur and Barnala. At many places, protesters are terming the Covid surge as an excuse by the government to weaken their agitation. The shortage of medical oxygen has become the latest ammunition against the protest, they claim.
No dip in numbers
Our protest has been going on for the past over 200 days and we have never seen a dip in the number of protesters. — Baljit Kaur, BKU (Ugrahan) Activist
Apart from protesting at the Delhi borders against central agricultural laws, farmers are up in arms against the tardy lifting of wheat in various grain markets of Punjab.
“Farmers continue to throng all protest sites, even though the agitation has been long and indefinite. We have not missed the protest even for a day and the number of participants continues to rise,” said Narayan Dutt, a farmer activist from Barnala.
Initially only elders and youngsters were visible at protest sites, but as they have to agitate against authorities to ensure timely purchase of their wheat, many families are sending their all members.
“Protests against the slow purchase of wheat are also happening simultaneously. The participation of farmers and their family members continues to get better,” said Baljit Kaur, a woman activist of BKU (Ugrahan) protesting at a petrol pump near Lehal Khurd village of Sangrur. Jagdev Singh Mangwal, a farmer protesting in front of a BJP leader’s house at Sangrur, says: “We have blocked almost all roads in Punjab and in coming days, we would block the remaining roads of other states too.”
Six soldiers from Punjab Regiment killed in Siachen
Two of the jawans, Sepoys Parabjit Singh and Amardeep Singh, belonged to Punjab
wo of the jawans, Sepoys Parabjit Singh and Amardeep Singh, belonged to Punjab. Tribune photo
Tribune News Service Chandigarh, April 26
In an unfortunate incident, six soldiers from the Punjab Regiment lost their lives in Siachen Glacier as the ice face on which they were present, carved in.
Two of the jawans, Sepoys Parabjit Singh and Amardeep Singh, belonged to Punjab.
“Saddened to lose 6 brave Jawans of Punjab Regiment in Siachen due to ice calving,” Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh tweeted late this evening.
“Government of Punjab will provide Rs 50 lakhs ex-gratia and a job to their next of kin. My condolences to their families,” he added.
The Punjab Regiment draws the bulk of its manpower from Punjab and some adjoining areas of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu region.
Siachen is known as the world’s highest battlefield and is characterised by extreme climate, deep snow, blizzards and temperature ranging up to minus 40 degrees Celsius.
In the past, there have been several incidents when troops, deployed at altitudes up to 21,000 feet, have fallen victim to climate and other natural calamities.
MP farmer donates Rs 2 lakh kept for daughter’s marriage to buy oxygen
Girl says noble deed of her father left her overwhelmed with joy; district collector hails gesture
Photo for representation. — PTI
Neemuch, April 26
Moved by the plight of COVID-19 patients and the growing scramble for medical oxygen, a farmer from Neemuch district in Madhya Pradesh has donated Rs 2 lakh he had set aside for his daughter’s lavish marriage to the local administration for buying the life-saving gas.
Champalal Gurjar, who hails from Gwal Deviyan village, has handed over a cheque for Rs 2 lakh to district collector Mayank Agrawal for buying two cylinders of medical oxygen one for the district hospital and another for Jeeran Tehsil where he lives.
Gurjar, who survives on farming, said he raised his daughter Anita with great care and wished that her marriage, which took place on Sunday, was a grand ceremony.
However, the pandemic situation made Gurjar change his mind at the last moment.
“….So to make my daughter’s marriage memorable I donated two lakh to the district administration so that they can buy two oxygen cylinders,” he added.
Anita said the noble deed of her father left her overwhelmed with joy.
“Right now, there is a dire need for medical oxygen given the surge in COVID-19 cases,” she said.
Collector Agrawal praised Gurjar’s gesture.
“If others take a cue from the farmer and donate, the fight against the pandemic will become a lot easier,” he said.
As of Sunday, Madhya Pradesh’s caseload stood at 4,99,304 and toll to 5,133, as per the state health department. PTI
DRDO develops single crystal blades for helicopter engines
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed single crystal blades that are used in helicopter engines and it has supplied 60 of them to the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for the company’s indigenous helicopter development program, an official statement said on Monday.
Single crystal blades—having complex shape and geometry—are manufactured out of nickel-based superalloys that are capable of withstanding high temperatures, it noted.
Helicopters used in strategic and defence applications need compact and powerful aero-engines for their reliable operation at extreme conditions, the statement mentioned.
“The DRDO has developed single crystal blades technology and supplied 60 of these blades to HAL as part of their indigenous helicopter development program for helicopter engine application,” it stated.
The DRDO will develop total five sets (300 blades) of single crystal blades.
While one set (60 blades) has been delivered to HAL, the remaining four will be “completed in due course”, the statement said.
This single crystal blades technology has been developed by the Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory (DMRL), one of the DRDO’s laboratories, it noted.
A few countries such as the US, the UK, France and Russia have the capability to design and manufacture single crystal components, the statement said. — PTI
Samyukta Kisan Morcha to hand out food packets, essential items to hospitals in Delhi
Already, farmers on the Ghazipur border are distributing food at the bus terminals, railways stations and hospitals in Delhi
Meals being distributed at the Bangla Sahib Gurdwara, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) is providing cooked meals to COVID-19 patients quarantined at home, in New Delhi. PTI
New Delhi, April 26
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farm unions spearheading the agitation against the Centre’s three agricultural laws, on Monday said they will distribute food and essential goods to hospitals in the national capital.
According to a statement released by the SKM, farmers sitting on several borders of Delhi will distribute food packets and other important goods to hospitals in the city.
Already, farmers on the Ghazipur border are distributing food at the bus terminals, railways stations and hospitals in Delhi. The packing process will be started on Tuesday at the Singhu border as well, it stated.
A group at Tikri border announced essential services will be provided and asked people to contact the SKM if any needy person in Delhi is not able to get food, the statement said.
Volunteers are helping vehicles carrying medical oxygen or other services that are coming in the way of the farmers protest to reach the destination with full support, it added. PTI
Nearly 64,000 COVID care beds in 4,000 coaches provisioned across India: Railways
In Delhi, the Railways has catered to the full demand of the UT Government for 75 COVID care coaches with a capacity of 1,200 beds
Mukesh Ranjan
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, April 26
The Ministry of Railways on Monday announced that it has provisioned nearly 64,000 COVID care beds in around 4,000 coaches across the country, as it said so far 2,670 units have already been deployed at nine Railway stations.
In an official release the public sector surface transport monolith said it was “swiftly meeting the demands made by the states and the Union Territories (UTs)” for the facility of COVID care coaches.
“As per currently available data, these facilities are seeing a steady intake registering a cumulative admission of 81 COVID patients and subsequent discharges of 22 patients. None of the facilities have registered any casualties,” it said.
The updated position of the utility of these coaches positioned at the nine major stations in the States and UTs of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
In Delhi, the Railways has catered to the full demand of the UT Government for 75 COVID care coaches with a capacity of 1,200 beds. “Fifty coaches are positioned at Shakurbasti and 25 coaches at Anand Vihar stations. Presently, five patients were admitted at Shakurbasti and one patient discharged,” the Ministry said, adding that during the first wave last year (2020), 857 patients were admitted and discharged at Shakurbasti facility.
In Bhopal (MP), the Railway has deployed “20 Isolation Coaches” with a capacity of 292 beds, as 3 patients were admitted and are presently using the facility, it said, adding that in Nandrubar (Maharashtra), “24 Isolation Coaches with a capacity of 292 beds have been deployed. This facility has registered 73 admissions till date. Of the 55 patients’ admissions in the current COVID spell, 7 patients have been discharged. 4 new admissions were recorded during the day. The Unit has 326 beds still available for Covid patients”.
In UP, though coaches have not yet been requisitioned by the State government, 10 coaches each are placed at Faizabad, Bhadohi, Varanasi, Bareli and Nazibabad with a total capacity of 800 beds in 50 coaches, it said.
In this hour of crisis owing to sudden surge of COVID-19, Western Command assures its Veterans and their families of requisite medical care and other assistance. We are deeply concerned about your wellbeing, health and in particular safety from COVID-19. Towards this, we are not only up scaling our existing medical infrastructure but also setting up additional facilities to meet the challenge thrown by fresh wave of the pandemic. In Western Command all Service hospitals, ECHS Polyclinics and Ex Servicemen Cells have been instructed to pro-actively deal with COVID-19 cases of our esteemed Veterans and their families. Following measures have been instituted against COVID-19 in the area of Western Command :-
(a) All Service hospitals including Base Hospital, Delhi Cantt which has been recently converted into an exclusive COVID-19 facility, Command Hospital, Chandimandir and other Military Hospitals will be accepting ECHS beneficiaries and no one will be turned away by them.
(b) Regional Centres, ECHS will extend all possible help at empanelled civil hospitals end to include hospital admission & availability of beds etc to needy ECHS members. In case of any difficulty, officers mentioned at Para 2 below should be contacted.
(c) All ECHS Polyclinics will have duty Medical officer/ Nursing assistant available on mobile numbers after duty hours. OsIC Polyclinics will disseminate contact numbers to dependent ECHS beneficiaries of respective Polyclinics.
(d) In order to avoid exposure to COVID-19, tele health facility at www.sehatopd.in should be explored by ECHS beneficiaries for seeking requisite medical consultation from medical officers & Specialists.
(e) With immediate effect, as a preventive measure, OPDs at ECHS Polyclinics will be conducted on Prior Appointment basis as was being done earlier.
(f) Facility for local purchase of prescribed medicines on reimbursement basis has been extended till 31 Jul 2021. ECHS beneficiaries should explore this and avoid visiting Polyclinics for collection of medicines.
(g) ECHS Polyclinics will continue to facilitate registration for COVID-19 Vaccination for the Veterans and their dependents
EMERGENCY HELPLINE. Following mobile numbers will be available for medical assistance :-
(a) ECHS Polyclinics — Existing tele/ mobile numbers of Polyclinics and OsIC as promulgated by each Polyclinic.
(b)Regional Centres, ECHS. For assistance at ECHS empanelled civil hospitals :– (i) Dir RC-I Delhi Cantt : Col Sumit Malik – Mobile 8871402107. (ii) Dir RC-II Delhi Cantt : Col Sanjay Kumar -Mobile 8810641964 (iii) Dir RC Ambala : Col Sandeep Azad -Mobile 9800822020. (iv) Dir RC Chandimandir : Col NMS Thakur -Mobile 9501212045. (v) Dir RC Jalandhar : Col Sanjiv Malik -Mobile 7085520400. (vi) Dir RC Jammu : Col Gaurav Kanwal -Mobile 8794521617. (vii) Dir RC Yol (Under Raising) : Gp Capt HS Cheema – Mobile 7382056140.
(c) Stn HQ, ECHS Cells. For assistance in admission at Service Hospitals / guidance:- (i) Delhi Cantt : Lt Col NS Rathore – Mobile 7839414690. (ii) Ambala : Col JP Kaushik – Mobile 9469138041. (iii) Chandimandir : Col Shamsher Singh – Mobile 9633012117. (iv) Shimla : Col Upkar Singh – Mobile 9582891316. (v) Palampur : Lt Col Purshotam Singh – Mobile 7889790271. (vi) Yol Cantt : Lt Col Shaman Kumar- Mobile 8130337780. (vii) Patiala : Lt Col Raminder Singh – Mobile 9418610787. (viii) Jallandhar : Col Gurjeet Singh – Mobile 7976352486. (ix) Amritsar : Col M Ahluwalia – Mobile 8120287703. (x) Pathankot : Col BS Sandhu – Mobile 9876625800. (i) Jammu : Col Rajeev Datta – Mobile 9373277918.
(d) Service Hospitals – Helplines. For assistance in admission at Service hospitals/ guidance:-
(e) HQ Western Command. For guidance on any issue related to management of COVID 19, Stn Helpline (Chandimandir) can be contacted on Mobile – 9633012117.
We also seek assistance of our resolute Veterans’ community in fight against COVID-19 and call for volunteers with medical as well as non medical background to join us in beating the Pandemic. Volunteers may contact us on Mobile – 8847225937 and e- mail at : wcechs@gmail.com.
Finally, We assure all Veterans and their dependents of our continued support and wish them good health & happiness.
Serving the humanity is the core mantra that has been driving vice-president of the Ghaziabad Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee Gurpreet Singh as he has started a unique initiative of “oxygen langar” to help Covid-19 patients amid severe shortage of medical oxygen in the country.
Amid SOS calls and messages for oxygen cylinders and concentrations flooding social media platform, Singh Saheb (as he is lovingly called) said, “We have started ‘oxygen langar’ on the premises of Indirapuram Gurdwara in Ghaziabad. On a daily average for the past one week we have been providing life-saving facility to 70 to 90 persons on demand.”
For the purpose, the gurdwara has also brought out a helpline number 9097041313.
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